Bar Admissions
State Bar of Texas
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. District Courts:
Southern District of Texas
Eastern District of Texas
Western District of Texas
Memberships & Associations
- International Municipal Lawyers Association (President, 2017 – 2018)
- Texas Municipal League (Affiliate Director representing Texas City Attorneys Association, 2016 – 2018)
- State Bar of Texas, Government Lawyers Section (Former Director)
- Texas City Attorneys Association (Past President)
- American Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association
- Fort Bend County Bar Association
- Hispanic Bar Association of Houston
- Harris County Bar Association
- Katy Bar Association
- McClellan County Bar Association
- Waller County Bar Association
- Texas District and County Attorneys Association
Career Highlights
Art earned his law degree at the University of Texas School of Law in 1986, and has devoted more than three decades of his legal career to the practice of public and municipal law, focusing on representing local government entities. He began his career as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Waco and later served as Assistant Harris County District Attorney, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Houston, and City Attorney for the City of Waco. Art is past President of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, has served on the Texas Municipal League and Texas State Bar Government Lawyers Board of Directors, and is past president of the Texas City Attorneys Association.
Education
Doctor of Jurisprudence
University of Texas School of Law, Austin, 1986
Bachelor of Arts
McMurry University, 1983
Professional Legal Experience
Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 2023 – Present | Senior Counsel
Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 2013 – 2022 | Partner
Olson & Olson, LLP | Houston, Texas | 2007 – 2012 | Attorney
City of Waco | Waco, Texas | 1996 – 2007 | City Attorney
City of Waco | Waco, Texas | 1995 – 1996 | First Assistant City Attorney
City of Houston | Houston, Texas | 1993 – 1995 | Assistant City Attorney
Harris County District Attorney’s Office | Houston, Texas | 1990 – 1993 | Assistant District Attorney
City of Waco | Waco, Texas | 1987 – 1990 | Assistant City Attorney
Concentration
Art serves as General Counsel representing cities, counties, special districts, other local governmental entities and public officials across the State of Texas in areas of litigation and special projects. He also serves as advisor to governmental clients in a variety of subject matter areas including annexation, zoning and land use regulation, subdivision regulation, economic development, employment, home-rule charters, utility franchising, land acquisition and eminent domain, building and construction regulations, and municipal incorporation. He provides legal advice to city councils, staff, and board and commission members on all areas of municipal law. He also negotiates and drafts development agreements, contracts, resolutions, releases, and ordinances.
Community Involvement
Art has been a youth basketball coach for more than 35 years. He is a board member of Waco Tigers non-profit organization, and a former board member of the Waco Foundation, Waco Parents for Public Schools, Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and the YMCA of Central Texas. He is a member and former trustee of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas and currently attends Current Christian Church of Katy.
